The 2026 NHL Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium was a historic spectacle that solidified Tampa’s reputation as a premier “Hockey Bay”. The event, held on February 1, 2026, pitted the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Boston Bruins in the first-ever outdoor NHL game played in a Florida football stadium.
Pre-Game Atmosphere: Pirates and Patriots
The atmosphere embraced the “Gasparilla” pirate theme, coinciding with Tampa’s famous festival. The pre-game festivities in the NHL PreGame Fan Festival featured interactive games, photos with the Stanley Cup, tons of fan interactives, and was hosted by Street Laced’s own, In-Game Host for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Greg Wolf, alongside #StreetLacedDJs own DJ MC White, and a performance by the country duo LOCASH.
The teams made grand entrances that leaned into their respective identities:
- Tampa Bay Lightning: Arrived in full Tampa Bay Buccaneers football uniforms, escorted by Bucs stars Baker Mayfield and Tristan Wirfs.
- Boston Bruins: Paid homage to their roots by dressing in 1776-era colonial Patriot garb.
Attendance and Record-Setting Numbers
A sellout crowd of 64,617 fans packed the stadium, setting a record for the largest attendance at a hockey game in Florida history. Beyond the gates, the game was a massive success for broadcasters, delivering 2.1 million viewers on ESPN—a record for the most-watched NHL regular-season game on cable.
Unexpectedly, a historical cold snap dropped temperatures to 41.8°F at puck drop, providing authentic “hockey weather” that preserved the ice and thrilled the bundled-up crowd.
Action on the Ice: A Historic Comeback
The game itself was a “wild and wacky” thriller that featured one of the greatest turnarounds in outdoor hockey history.
- Fast Start:
scored just 11 seconds into the game, the fastest opening goal in NHL outdoor history.
- Bruins Dominance: Boston silenced the home crowd by scoring five consecutive goals to take a commanding 5–1 lead by the second period.
- Goalie Brawl: The energy shifted dramatically following a rare goalie fight between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jeremy Swayman.
- The Rally: Led by Nikita Kucherov’s four-point night, the Lightning roared back with four unanswered goals—including two on a single 5-on-3 power play—to force overtime tied at 5–5.
- The Finish: Jake Guentzel secured the victory as the lone scorer in the shootout, completing the first four-goal comeback in Lightning franchise history and the largest in NHL outdoor history.
Between the piratical festivities, record viewership, and a legendary on-ice rally, the 2026 Stadium Series in Tampa set a new standard for the league’s outdoor events.
